Page 61 of Wicked Designs
“Are you warm enough, darling?”
“I am warm whenever you touch me.” Realizing she’d admitted too much, she hastily added, “When I wish to be touched, that is.”
“Hmm, I shall remember that.” He released his hold on her waist and put an arm around her shoulders as they walked after the others.
Emily realized Godric wasn’t carrying a gun. “Are you not shooting today?”
“I don’t need to hunt. I’ve already caught you.” He kissed the top of her head.
“It is highly unfair that Penelope is running around free while I am leashed.”
Godric considered this. “You’re quite right. Cedric, tether the pup so she doesn’t wander off.” He looked back to Emily. “There, my dear, fairness has been achieved.”
Cedric grumbled. “Would you two kindly stop cooing at each other like a pair of doves? You are scaring away the pheasants.”
“Jealous, Sheridan?” It was the first time Emily had ever heard one of the five men call another by his lastname. It sounded like a schoolboy challenge, and she nearly laughed. Men would always be boys on some level, that much never changed.
“Jealous of you?” Cedric snorted. “You think I want to constantly chase and tie down a little fox like her? Not on your life, St. Laurent. It is far too much work. No woman is worth that.”
Emily lifted her skirts as she stepped over a large stone. “Not even Anne Chessley?”
Cedric froze, his foot braced on a fallen log, watching the dog.
Penelope sniffed around the log’s opening and then dove inside.
“Penny, come!” Cedric commanded, tugging on the leash.
The little hound crawled out from under the fallen log, looking alert and ready.
“Penny, sit.” Her haunches dropped, her tail wagging on the grass, stirring leaves with its energetic swiping.
“Good girl.” Cedric pulled out a biscuit from his pocket and tossed her a piece. Penelope caught the crumb, licking her lips.
“She’s a fast learner. You should have no trouble with her, Emily.”
“Cedric, you didn’t answer my question.”
“I had not planned on doing so.”
“But—”
“No, Emily.” He made a show of checking his gun and jumped over the log, walking away from them. Emily watched his retreating back with disappointment.
Ashton bent to stroke Penelope’s head. “He’s a bit stubborn when it comes to women.”
“Really? When he told me about how he met Godric—”
Godric and Ashton looked at her.
“He told you that story?” Godric’s face was red. Emily couldn’t contain her grin. It was nice to see him flustered for a change.
“Oh, yes. He told me you got into a fight with an upper year over a woman.”
Godric stumbled a step. “He did?”
Emily thought of the man with the cane. “Did you know Waverly very well?”
“Hugo was an older student and an unpleasant fellow to say the least,” Ashton said. “He made a lot of trouble for us, but if it hadn’t been for him we would never have met Charles.”
